1. Cardio. Lots of it. The principle is simple: losing body fat is really about being in a calorie deficit — if you burn more calories than you eat, your body will burn fat for fuel. And there’s no better way to get into calorie deficit, in my experience, than doing lots of cardio.
2. Lift heavy. If you lift heavy weights (whether you’re a man or a woman), gene activation will mean that you will put on quite a bit of muscle. Compound exercises (also known as multi-joint) are best — squats and deadlifts and bench press.
3. Eat adequate amounts of protein. From what I’ve read, 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight is more than enough. I do only track protein while trying to eat close to no sugar, as healthy as possible, and as many green vegetables. Seems to work okay.
4. Focus on how you look in the mirror, not weight. If you want to know what you’re (literally) made of, look in the mirror. In other words, focus on lowering your body fat.
5. Commit. Last year, in July, I weighed 146 pounds. Now, after 10 months of daily working out, I weigh 168.2 pounds. You must commit, you must assume responsibility. It’s you. Just you.
6. Drink water only. Well, almost only. I have a cup of coffee in the morning, and another one after working out, but other than that, I only drink water, all day long.
7. Change things up. Do some HIIT (high intensity interval training) instead of your usual LIIT, or punch the life out of a punching bag. Try different workouts, exercises, and have fun. Also, remember that the worse you are at the technique required to properly do an exercise, the more calories you burn.
8. Rest is just as important as exercise. It seems that 8.5 hours of sleep do the trick. Also, do try to go to bed before 10 PM.
   

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Getting leaner and fitter doesn’t happen overnight, or even after a week or even two months. It’s not the destination you should be obsessing about, but the journey.

Focus on making exercise and eating healthy daily habits, and you will have the body you want.